DARING RIDE PAYS OFF FOR SASSY MERLOT

Given a daring ride by Niranjan Parmar, Sassy Merlot (5 m Burgundy – Saveadance, by Savabeel) won the $18,500 Agraforum Growing Innovation Rating 75 1600 metres on 4 April at Ashburton.

After fighting well for fifth in the Open Handicap 1400 metres on 23 March at Riccarton, Sassy Merlot dropped in grade for the assignment, but previously placed in both starts over 1600 metres, dual Group placed, and appeared capable of a bold showing if appreciative of the course at her first attempt.

Winging barrier 10 to lead set the wheels in motion and after pinching six to eight lengths on her rivals through the mid-stages she had the reserves to ward off a couple of late challengers by three-quarters of a length.

It was a good effort by both horse and rider, with Sassy Merlot having stakes placed as a three-year-old over the distance when second in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and recently finishing third over 1600 metres Hastings, while Parmar set a genuine tempo in front and the catch me if you can tactics paid off.

In drizzly conditions, on footing downgraded to Soft5 earlier on the programme, Sassy Merlot ran 1600 metres in 1:36.4, last 600m in 37.5, and shortened to start race favourite ($3.60 & $1.70) on the NZ TAB tote.

It was a good day for the stable with Sassy Merlot winning and Harlech (Darci Brahma) running so well for a head margin second in the Open Handicap 1300 metres, prior to contesting the $120,000 Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr. 3, 2000m) on Saturday 20 April at Riccarton.

“We’re got them down here to try and recapture their best form and possibly some black type in stakes races,” said Pam Gerard, who trains in partnership with Mike Moroney.

“Richie (Fallon) is down here looking after them and has a wealth of experience and we’re getting help from Meg (Cunneen) and Jumbo (Didham), they’re all helping.

“They both paraded in really good order and looking pretty fit. They’re both enjoying it down here (stabled at Riccarton) and growing in confidence.”

Gerard suggested that Sassy Merlot may now contest the $80,000 Great Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on Saturday 20 April at Riccarton.

From a family noted for producing horses with a turn of foot (acceleration), including Singalong (Danasinga), Coup Ray (Exploding Prospect), Penny Arcade (Straussbrook), Black Magic (Kaapstad), and Electrostatic (Elnadim), Sassy Merlot is owned by M & W Bloomfield, D C & P M Dean, J P Gray, A & J Hayne, D Lean, M N McConnell, A H Panther, Savvy Racing Swamp Fox Syndicate (Mgr. Keith McDonald), and Ballymore Stables.

Selected by Catheryne Bruggeman & Paul Moroney Bloodstock, and regarded by the pair as a “cracking filly”, Sassy Merlot was purchased for $24,000 at the Karaka 2020 Book 3 Sale, on account of Advantageous Ventures.

Sassy Merlot was strapped by Richie Fallon.